Tennis-Roddick undecided about Wimbledon return

June 30, 2012|Reuters

By Ed Osmond

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - As Andy Roddick walked offWimbledon's Centre Court after his third-round defeat by DavidFerrer on Saturday, he blew a kiss and waved to the crowd in amanner which suggested the three-times runner-up might not bereturning.

The 29-year-old American's 12th bid to win the grasscourttitle had ended in failure but the former world number one wasadamant that he had not made any decisions about his future.

"No," he told a news conference when he was repeatedlyprodded to give a definitive answer to the question of whetherhe would be back at Wimbledon next year.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion said he was happy with the wayhe played in his 2-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 defeat by seventh seed Ferrer.

"I thought I played well," Roddick said. "I had one reallygood look at a forehand on a set point in the second set, justclipped the tape. That was a big, big turning point there."

Roddick, who won the Eastbourne warm-up tournament, said hefelt better coming out of this tournament than he had for awhile and was looking forward to coming back to Wimbledon nextmonth for the Olympics.

"I'm excited," he said. "If I can kind of maintain the formthat I've had it's going to be uncomfortable (for the others as)I don't think I'm going to be seeded."

Roddick said he still enjoyed his job.

"Being a tennis player is a tough thing," he said. "To kindof keep a certain level for a really long time, it's not easy.

"I'm proud that I've been very dedicated to my craft. Therearen't many days when I go to sleep wondering if I could havedone more as far as preparation or work or effort.."

Roddick found support from his compatriot Mardy Fish, whoreached the fourth round by beating Belgian David Goffin onSaturday.

"I think he'll go down as one of the best grasscourt playersto ever play," Fish said. "Certainly could be one of the bestgrasscourt players to never win Wimbledon. I'm assuming he'llcome back."

Fish described Roddick as the leader of American men'stennis.

"He was the alpha male in our generation, certainly thebiggest name by a good distance. He handled the burden of thepressure and the expectation for 10 years.

"Unbelievably consistent. Doesn't get enough credit for it.He finished in the top 10 in the world eight straight years.Pretty amazing."